Abraham Ancer of Mexico was on his way to tying the one-day old course record at TPC Potomac at Avenal Farm and he knew exactly what was going on, but the pressure didn’t faze him.
The 27-year-old Ancer, who is seeking his first PGA Tour victory, posted a bogey-free 8-under-par 62 and is tied with Francesco Molinari of Italy heading to the final round of the Quicken Loans National in Potomac, Md.
“I was aware of where I was because there are scoreboards everywhere,” said Ancer, whose only pro victory came in the 2015 Nova Scotia Open on the Web.com Tour. “I had a really great plan today and didn’t make any mistakes.
“I kept the ball in front of me, hit a lot of fairways and greens, made a lot of putts and posted a good score. I wanted to make as many birdies as I could. I stuck with my plan, didn’t make any mistakes and it worked out.”
Ancer, who played college golf at Oklahoma, equaled the course record set in round two by Kevin Streelman by collecting four birdies on each nine while recording a 54-hole score of 13-under 197.
Molinari, 35, who has won seven times as a pro but never on the PGA Tour, sank a five-foot birdie putt on the final hole to cap a second straight 65 and pull even with Ancer.
He won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth outside London last month and is in good shape in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, so he passed up the French Open this week because he need points in the FedEx Cup standing to qualify for the playoffs.
“I didn’t play so well over here earlier in the year and I need the FedEx Cup points,” said Molinari, who tied for second behind Justin Thomas in the PGA Championship last year at Quail Hollow. “I think it’s harder over here for Europeans to win over here because the courses are so different and all the players are so aggressive.
“On this course, you just have to hit fairways and greens because the rough is so deep, and then make putts. You just have to keep your foot on the gas and make as many birdies as you can. I’ll try to just keep doing the same thing tomorrow.”
Zac Blair shot 66 despite a closing bogey and is two strokes behind in a tie for third with Ryan Armour, who posted a 68 after being tied for the lead after round two, while Andrew Landry is three back in fifth after a 65, followed another shot behind by Streelman, who came back with a 67.
Beau Hossler of Mission Viejo, who also had a share of the 36-hole lead, totaled 71 and is five down in a tie for seventh with C.T. Pan of Taiwan, who had a 68, and Troy Merritt, who came in at 66.
Tournament host Tiger Woods had four straight birdies on the front nine but settled for a 68 and is six behind in a tie for 10th with Brian Gay (72), the other second-round leader, Chesson Hadley (68), Marc Leishman (69) of Australia, Bronson Burgoon (65), and Ryan Blaum (64).
Eighth-ranked Rickie Fowler of Murrieta is tied for 22nd after a 69.
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